One of Southeastern High Schools basketball coaching legends has died. Park Prater passed away at his Chillicothe home early Sunday following a brief illness. He was 94-years-old.
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Park Prater had several good teams while at Southeastern, but might be best known for his 1964 district championship squad that included Larry Jordan, Elwood Strausbaugh, A.L Higgins, Danny Barker, Jim Rucker, Everitt Alley, and Kenny Park, among others. Prater was named the Ohio "Coach of the Year" in 1964.
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That team lost to Dresden in the regional finals. Dresden won the state title that season.
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Prater was also a former teacher and coach in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, along with Stockdale, Ohio. He retired after coaching at Southeastern High School.
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He was also a past member of the Ross County Fair Board of Directors, and was a Kentucky Colonel.
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Funeral services will be held 1pm Wednesday, July 31st at the New Life CCCU Church in Richmond Dale, with his nephew, Rev. David Boggs, officiating. Burial will follow in Little Mound Cemetery. Friends may call at the Ware Funeral Home in Chillicothe from 5pm to 8pm Tuesday, or one hour prior to the service at the church in Richmond Dale.
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You may sign his online register at www.warefh.com